Baseball board game

ABSTRACT

A baseball board game and method for playing same, wherein the board game includes means for observing a field baseball game and the method includes watching a field baseball game and using the actions of the field baseball players to determine the movement of markers on the game board.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to board games, and more specifically to a method for playing a baseball board game that involves observing a field baseball game as part of the board game play.

BACKGROUND

A number of board games have been devised that relate to baseball. Some of these games simulate the playing of a field baseball game by use of miniature balls and a field marked out with scoring results. Others use statistics from current or former field baseball players to determine the outcome of the game. Still other baseball-themed games use a random number generator, such as dice or a spinner, to determine the events of the game. The present invention provides a new and different dynamic by incorporating the observation of a field baseball game into the board game play.

SUMMARY

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope.

The teachings herein are directed to a method of playing a baseball board game by two players. In one embodiment, this method comprises providing a board having a representation of a baseball field thereon. The representation, includes four base representations arranged as the four corners of a quadrangle and four base-path representations connecting the four base representations. The four base representations and the four base-path representations together form a closed circuit. A plurality of marker locations are arranged in two tracks along the circuit such that each track comprises an equal number of marker locations. Each track includes a marker location at each of the base representations and a plurality of marker locations on each base-path representation.

Two markers are provided that are identifiably different from each other, and one marker is assigned to each player. The two markers are placed in marker locations on one base representation such that one marker is in each track. The players select a goal by which the winner of the board game will be determined. The board and markers are then used to record the events of a field baseball game by assigning each of the two teams playing the field baseball game to one of the two board game players and each player then moved his or her marker a specific number of locations for each possible action of the corresponding field baseball team. The winner is determined by one player achieving the selected goal.

In one embodiment, the marker is moved one location if the team hits a foul ball out of play; two locations if the team hits a ball into the infield but the batter does not safely reach first base; two locations if the team hits a bunt out of play; three locations if the team hits a single; three locations if the team hits a bunt in play but the runner is tagged out; four locations if the team hits a double; five locations if the team hits a triple; six locations if the team hits a bunt single; and six locations if the team's batter is hit by a pitch. Additionally, the marker is moved six locations if the team hits a home run with no runners on base; the marker is moved 12 locations if the team hits a home run with one runner on base; the marker is moved 18 locations if the team hits a home run with two runners on base; and the marker is moved 24 locations if the team hits a home run with three runners on base.

In one embodiment, the board comprises 24 marker locations in each track. In one embodiment, the markers are pegs and the marker locations are holes.

In one embodiment, the goal is to be the player having the first marker to return to the starting location. In another embodiment, the method further comprises tallying a score for each player such that each time a player's marker returns to the starting point the player's score is increased by one. In a further embodiment, the goal is to be the player with the highest score at the end of a specified number of innings of the field baseball game. In an alternative embodiment, the goal is to be the player with the highest score at the end of the field baseball game.

In one embodiment, the field baseball game is attended in person by the players. In, an alternative embodiment, the field baseball game is watched on television by the players. In yet another alternative embodiment, the field baseball game is listened to on a radio by the players.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above, further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to the drawings and by study of the following detailed descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced drawings. It is intended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative rather than restrictive.

FIG. 1 is a top view of an exemplary game board.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary game board with markers shown at some marker locations.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic representation of the steps of the method of playing a baseball board game, according to an exemplary set of rules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Definition

The term “field baseball” is used to refer to the game popularly known as baseball, and is played by two teams on a baseball field using balls and bats. Field baseball terms used herein, such as “inning,” “home run,” and “hit,” are to be understood to have the meanings commonly used in field baseball rules.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the game board 10 comprises a representation of a baseball field. The game board may be square, rectangular, circular, or of any regular or irregular shape desired. In one embodiment, the game board is substantially quadrilateral. In a preferred embodiment, the game board has three substantially straight edges and one curved edge, similar to the shape of a field baseball field. The representation of a baseball field may be in the form of a drawing, painting, raised or embossed design, or any other form that makes the features of the baseball field apparent. The representation of a baseball field includes representations of home base 12, also referred to as home plate, first base 14, second base 16, and third base 18. In one embodiment, the bases are represented by shapes similar to those of field baseball bases; i.e. substantially square shapes for first, second and third bases and an irregular pentagon shape for home base. In alternative embodiments, the bases may be represented by other shapes, or by any combination of shape, color and design that allows the player to identify the bases. The bases are arranged to form the corners of a substantially quadrilateral pattern, as they are on a field baseball field. A set of base paths 20 connect home base to first base, first base to second base, second base to third base, and third base to home base, forming a substantially quadrilateral path. Representations of other elements of a field baseball field such as the pitcher's mound, infield, outfield, foul ball lines, fences, team dugouts, and spectator stands may be included in the representation of the baseball field to make the field more recognizable to the players, to increase the aesthetic appeal of the board, and to make playing the board game more enjoyable.

The board 10 includes locations 22 along the base paths 20 for markers 24. In one embodiment, the markers 24 are pegs and the locations 22 are holes. In alternative embodiments, the markers may be balls, marbles, chips, figurines, cubes, or any other small objects. In these embodiments, the locations may be in any form that removably holds the markers, including indentations, hollows, slots, and bumps, or the locations may be merely visual indicators such as colored dots or numbers. In another alternative embodiment, the markers and locations have magnetic properties allowing the markers to be held on a location even if the game board is tipped or jostled. The locations 22 are provided in pairs, allowing two players to have markers on the board at the same time. A pair of locations 22 is provided at each base (home base, first base, second base, and third base), and a plurality of pairs of locations are provided along the base paths 20 between the bases. The pairs of locations form two tracks around the base paths, passing through each of the bases. Two markers 24 are provided to track the progress of the two players during the game. The two markers are distinguishable in some way, for example by having different colors or different shapes.

The board game is played by two players who are observing a field baseball game. In an alternative embodiment, the board game is played by two teams of players, each team of players being considered a player for purposes of the method. The players may be personally present at a live field baseball game, or the players may observe a live or pre-recorded field baseball game via television or radio. The present game is distinguished from certain other baseball-related games in that observation of a field baseball game is required for the game play. Many other baseball-related games are played using statistics from previous games or individual professional baseball players, however the statistics typically reported for field baseball do not include elements required for the present board game. For example, the statistics typically reported for field baseball do not indicate how many foul, balls a given batter hits before either making an out or advancing to first base. In contrast, in the present board game markers are moved forward for any contact between the batter's bat and the ball, including balls hit foul.

FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic representation of the steps of the method of playing a baseball board game according to one embodiment. The method 30 includes step 32, wherein each of the two teams playing the field baseball game is assigned to one of the two board game players. This assignment can be accomplished by any appropriate means, including mutual agreement, coin toss, die roll, or assignment by a third party. The actions of the field baseball team assigned to a player determine the movement of that player's marker. The players place their markers in the locations provided at home base (step 34), one marker being placed in each of the pair of home base locations.

The players then select a goal (step 36), the accomplishment of which will indicate the winner of the game. In one embodiment, the goal is to be the first player to move his or her marker a specified number of locations. The specified number of locations could be 24, which constitutes one complete circuit of the track and a return to the starting location in one embodiment, or it could be any other mutually agreed number. In one embodiment, the goal is to be the first player to move his or her marker a specified number of locations given an equal number of innings played for each field baseball team. In this embodiment, if both players have moved their marker at least the specified number of locations after an equal number of innings, the player who has moved his or her marker the greater number of locations is the winner.

In an alternative embodiment, the goal is to be the player who has moved his or her marker the greater number of locations over the course of a specified number of innings in the field baseball game. The specified number of innings can be 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 innings. The specified number of innings can occur anytime within the field baseball game. For example, a specified number of three innings could be the first three innings of a field baseball game, the last three innings of a field baseball game, or any three innings between the first and last innings. This allows players to play the board game while observing any portion of a field baseball game, without requiring the observation to begin at the beginning of the field baseball game or to include the end of the field baseball game. Because the locations form a closed circuit, in one embodiment players keep track of how many locations the players' markers have been moved by tallying a score for each player. Each player's score is zero at the beginning of the game and is increased by one each time the player's marker lands on home base, which represents one complete circuit of the track.

In yet another alternative embodiment, the goal is to be the player who has moved his or her marker the greater number of locations over the course of an entire field baseball game. An entire field baseball game is typically made up of nine innings, but have more or less innings depending on circumstances. For example, a field baseball game can have fewer than nine innings due to inclement weather or more than nine innings due to the teams being tied after nine innings. In addition, college and youth field baseball games may have fewer than nine innings in an entire game. In this embodiment, players may also tally a score for each player that is increased by one each time the player's marker lands on home base.

The next step 38 is to observe a field baseball game. The player whose assigned team is at bat observes the actions of the batter. The player then moves his or her marker counterclockwise along the track of locations, moving the marker the specific number of locations designated for the observed action of the batter (step 40). The following table shows the number of locations moved for the indicated action, according to one embodiment.

Number of Action of Batter Locations Moved Foul ball (not a bunt) out of play 1 Ball hit into infield (not a bunt) but batter is out 2 because tagged out or ball caught Bunt hit out of bounds 2 Ball hit and batter is safe at first base (a single) 3 Bunt hit in bounds, but batter is tagged out 3 Ball hit and batter is safe at second base (a double) 4 Ball hit and batter is safe at third base (a triple) 5 Bunt hit and batter is safe at first base 6 Batter hit by a pitched ball 6 Home run with no runners on base 6 Home run with one runner on base 12 Home run with two runners on base 18 Home run with three runners on base 24

Steps 38 and 40 are repeated for each batter that comes to bat. When the first field baseball team is batting, the player assigned to the first team moves his or her marker according to the actions of the batter. When the second field baseball team is batting, the player assigned to the second team mover his or her marker according to the actions of the batter.

After each batter's turn at bat is concluded, step 42 is to check whether the predetermined goal has been achieved. If so, then the board game is over (step 44) and the player who achieved the goal is the winner. If the goal has not been achieved, then steps 38, 40, and 42 are repeated.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, those possessed of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims. 

1. A baseball board game comprising: a) a board having a representation of a baseball field thereon, wherein the representation includes i) four base representations arranged as the four corners of a quadrangle; ii) four base-path representations connecting the four base representations and forming, together with the four base representations, a closed circuit; iii) a plurality of marker locations arranged in two tracks along the circuit such that each track comprises an equal number of marker locations, each track includes a marker location at each base representation, and each track includes a plurality of marker locations on each base-path representation; b) two markers that are identifiably different; c) a chart indicating the number of locations a marker is to be moved based on the action of a field baseball team; and d) means for observing a field baseball game.
 2. The baseball board game of claim 1, wherein the means for observing a field baseball game is a television set.
 3. The baseball board game of claim 1, wherein the means for observing a field baseball game is a radio.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The baseball board game of claim 1, wherein the chart indicates that the marker is moved one location if the team hits a foul ball out of play, the marker is moved two locations if the team hits a ball into the infield but the batter does not safely reach first base, the marker is moved two locations if the team hits a bunt out of play, the marker is moved three locations if the team hits a single, the marker is moved three locations if the team hits a bunt in play but the runner is tagged out, the marker is moved four locations if the team hits a double, the marker is moved five locations if the team hits a triple, the marker is moved six locations if the team hits a home run, the marker is moved six locations if the team hits a bunt single, the marker is moved six locations if the team hits a home run with no runners on base, the marker is moved 12 locations if the team hits a home run with one runner on base, the marker is moved 18 locations if the team hits a home run with two runners on base, and the marker is moved 24 locations if the team hits a home run with three runners on base.
 6. The baseball board game of claim 1, wherein the board comprises 24 marker locations in each track.
 7. The baseball board game of claim 1, wherein the markers are pegs and the marker locations are holes. 8.-14. (canceled) 